If you have eczema, it is important to know that you are not alone. For people who are new to this condition, they may feel frustrated and confused because they did not expect it. Learning more about it is one of the best treatments out there. If you keep reading, you will learn more.
When you have eczema, you should take caution to clean the skin gently. Once you have washed your skin, and it is still moist, apply a good moisturizer to the skin within three minutes to ensure the moisture is sealed into the skin. You may even want to soak in a nice oatmeal bath as well before you moisturize.
Ointments or creams can help moisturize your skin. These are much better solutions than using lotions. You could even use something as simple as petroleum jelly to soften the skin. No matter what you pick, be certain it contains no alcohol or fragrance. Use a moisturizer twice a day.
Do not turn the water up too high when in the shower or the bath. It can cause problems for your eczema. In addition, be gentle when washing your skin. Do not rub the skin too hard, and avoid soap. Instead, use a cleanser that is safer for your body.
If you are getting ready to put something on your skin to moisturize it, like an ointment or a lotion, make sure you get your skin damp first. That will help the moisturizer do its job. It may be best to apply the product within a few minutes of getting out the shower or the bath. Simply pat yourself dry, so that you are not dripping wet, and then put the product on.
To reduce eczema flare-ups, there are some basic bathing rules you can follow. Use room temperature water in your tub or shower. Hot water can cause eczema flare-ups. Don’t scrub your skin. Use a gentle soap alternative instead of soap itself. Pat your skin dry, and liberally apply moisturizer when you are done bathing.
Do not scratch your eczema. It is hard to resist because eczema is an itchy skin condition, but scratching makes it worse. You can increase the itching, damage your skin, and increase your risk of getting an infection. Try keeping the skin moisturized, bathing regularly, and using cold compresses to alleviate itching.
In areas which have cold weather during the winter, those who have eczema need to take special care to prevent flare-ups. When dressing for cold temperatures, it is important to dress in a way which does not promote overheating and sweating since both of these trigger the itching and scratching cycle. If one dresses in layers, the removal of extra garments can prevent overheating.
Do you have eczema on your hands or wrists? Cold winter weather can be really brutal on these areas if they are not properly protected. The cold, dry air associated with winter can increase the dryness of your skin. Of course, this can cause a flare-up of your eczema. To help prevent this from happening, rub a ointment-based moisturizer on your hands and wrists. When you go outside, wear gloves for added protection.
Make sure the air is not too dry in your home, especially in the rooms you spend most of your time in. Dry air can cause break outs of eczema. If it is the heating season or you have particularly dry air in your home, you can fix that by putting a humidifier in those rooms.
The clothing you wear can affect whether or not you have eczema flare-ups. Those with eczema should wear clothing made of cotton or cotton blend. On the other hand, clothing made of synthetic fibers and wools ought to be avoided, as they can irritate your skin. Also, wash any clothing your purchase before wearing it.
Think about using a humidifier to moisten the air in your home and manage your eczema. Particularly in the winter months, the dry air can cause your skin to become dry, a condition that can lead to eczema. Humidifiers moisturize the air, ending this trigger.
Avoid scrubbing your skin. Eczema won’t just scrub away in the shower. Scrubbing your skin when you bathe will only serve to irritate it. Avoid using exfoliating scrubs and rough sponges or loofahs. Instead, use cotton rags and a gentle, unscented soap for sensitive skin. This will be much easier on your skin.
Take care not to scratch. If you tend to scratch in your sleep, be sure the itchy areas are covered by gauze, bandages or pajamas. Trim your fingernails very short so that you will not be able to scratch much while sleeping. Use cold compresses and/or anti-itch treatments right before bed.
Consider getting rid of your carpets and throw rugs throughout your house. Carpet and rugs are known for harboring dust mites, allergens and other microscopic irritants which can cause an eczema flair-up. So consider hardwood floors or a low pile carpet if you absolutely must have carpet in your house.
Vacuuming is a better choice than sweeping. Sweeping will stir up the dust and put it back into the air. Using a vacuum (with a good filtering bag) will capture the particles and remove them from the air you breathe and keep them from resettling on the surfaces of your house.
You definitely want to be sure that you’re moisturizing your skin often, at least three times daily. This is necessary not only for the skin that is dry and itchy but also for other skin areas for a prevention method. Be sure that you select a moisturizer that does not contain added chemicals, so go all-natural, and get an unscented product as well.
Always vacuum instead of sweeping. Sweeping just sweeps dirt, dust and other irritants into the air. This can irritate your skin and make your eczema worse. If you do not have carpeting in your home purchase a vacuum that you can use on hardwood floors as well. The investment will be worth it.
As was stated earlier, many people have to deal with the stress of having eczema. You don’t have to feel this way yourself! You can have happy skin. Use what you learned here.
